GOD CALLS US TO WORSHIP :: 1 Chronicles 16:33-34

WORSHIP IN SONG :: Yet Not I, But Through Christ In Me

What gift of grace is Jesus, my Redeemer
There is no more for heaven now to give
He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom
My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peaceTo this I hold: my hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to His
Oh how strange and divine, I can sing: all is mine!
Yet not I but through Christ in me

The night is dark but I am not forsaken
For by my side the Savior, He will stay
I labour on in weakness and rejoicing
For in my need His power is displayedTo this I hold: my Shepherd will defend meThrough the deepest valley He will lead
Oh the night has been won and I shall overcome
Yet not I but through Christ in me

No fate I dread, I know I am forgiven
The future sure, the price, it has been paid
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon
And He was raised to overthrow the graveTo this I hold: my sin has been defeated
Jesus now and ever is my plea
Oh the chains are released, I can sing: I am free
Yet not I but through Christ in me

With every breath I long to follow Jesus
For He has said that He will bring me home
And day by day I know he will renew me
Until I stand with joy be-fore the throneTo this I hold: my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat
Yet not I but through Christ in me

CONFESSION OF FAITH :: New City Catechism, Question 25

Does Christ’s death mean all our sins can be forgiven?

Yes, because Christ’s death on the cross fully paid the penalty for our sin, God graciously imputes Christ’s righteousness to us as if it were our own and will remember our sins no more.

GOD’S WORD PREACHED :: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Matthew 13:1–9

The Parable of the Sower

[1] That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. [2] And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. [3] And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. [4] And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. [5] Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, [6] but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. [7] Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. [8] Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. [9] He who has ears, let him hear.”

Matthew 13:18–23

The Parable of the Sower Explained

[18] “Hear then the parable of the sower: [19] When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. [20] As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, [21] yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. [22] As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. [23] As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” (ESV)